Matrix Service Company (NasdaqGS:MTRX) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 05, 2026 10:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsJohn Hewitt - President and CEOKellie Smythe - Senior Director of Investor RelationsKevin Cavanah - VP and CFOConference Call ParticipantsBrent Thielman - Managing Director and Senior Research AnalystJohn Franzreb - Senior Equity AnalystOperatorGood morning, and welcome to the Matrix Service Company conference call to discuss results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Currently, all participant ...

In late 2025 and early 2026, I made some sizable moves in my portfolio, resulting in increased stakes in three dividend stocks. Here's what I did and why. Adding more of a good thing In the second half of 2025, I decided to increase my position in Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) because of its evolving business. The core of the company has always been renewable energy, such as hydroelectric, solar, and wind. Management added energy storage to that, and -- the real kicker for me -- nuclear power ...

Core Insights - Exco Technologies reported a higher year-over-year profit with modest revenue growth in its fiscal 2026 first quarter, driven by gains in the Automotive Solutions segment which offset weaker demand in die-cast tooling within the Casting and Extrusion segment [4][7]. Financial Performance - Cash provided by operating activities was CAD 10.2 million, slightly down from CAD 10.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Free cash flow increased to CAD 4.8 million from CAD 3.8 million, while cash used in investing activities declined to CAD 4.5 million from CAD 7.7 million [1]. - Consolidated net income was CAD 4.8 million, or CAD 0.13 per share, compared to CAD 4.2 million, or CAD 0.11 per share, in the prior-year quarter. Quarterly consolidated EBITDA was CAD 17.4 million, representing 12% of sales, versus CAD 16.7 million (also 12%) a year ago [2][7]. Segment Performance - The Automotive Solutions segment saw sales climb 10% to CAD 79.3 million, with pre-tax profit jumping 37% to CAD 6.5 million, driven by new product launches and improved operational efficiency [6][8]. - The Casting and Extrusion segment reported a 2% decline in sales to CAD 70.2 million, primarily due to softer die-cast tooling demand amid OEM delays and trade uncertainty, although extrusion sales remained resilient [5][12]. Strategic Focus - Management emphasized a diversification strategy and operational efficiency, with plans to moderate fiscal 2026 capital expenditures to CAD 28 million, down from CAD 36 million in fiscal 2025 [3][17]. - The company is focusing on pricing discipline to mitigate cost inflation and expects sales to benefit from recent and upcoming product launches [10]. Market Conditions - Global trade policy uncertainty, particularly regarding tariffs, remains a significant macro consideration. The company believes that its products comply with USMCA rules of origin, which should keep them exempt from tariffs in the long term [19]. - Demand for aluminum extrusion related to AI data centers is currently low but is expected to grow significantly, providing a future tailwind for the company [20].

Core Viewpoint - Eaton's stock has increased following the announcement of a spin-off, indicating a strategic shift towards higher-growth sectors such as aviation and AI data centers [1] Group 1: Spin-Off Strategy - The spin-off is expected to transform Eaton into a higher-growth and higher-margin entity by divesting slower-growing business segments [1] Group 2: Focus on Aviation and AI - Eaton is committing significant resources to expand its presence in the aviation sector and AI data centers, reflecting a strategic pivot towards industries with greater growth potential [1]

Key Points Clearway Energy is in a strong position to capitalize on growing clean power demand. It has excellent growth visibility through 2030. Clearway has plenty of power to continue growing at a healthy rate in 2031 and beyond. 10 stocks we like better than Clearway Energy › Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN)(NYSE: CWEN.A) is one of the largest owners of clean generation assets in the country with 12.7 gigawatts (GW) of wind, solar, energy storage, and natural gas capacity. Despite that, it tends to ...

Core Insights - Constellation Energy has evolved significantly since its spin-off from Exelon in early 2022, focusing on merchant power generation while Exelon manages regulated utilities [1] - The company has signed two major nuclear power deals and is in the process of acquiring Calpine for $26.6 billion, which will enhance its scale and capacity [4] Group 1: Company Overview - Constellation Energy is one of the largest clean power producers in the U.S., operating over 32.4 gigawatts (GW) of power generation capacity, sufficient to supply electricity to more than 20 million homes and businesses [3] - Approximately 90% of the power produced by Constellation comes from carbon-free sources, including the largest nuclear power fleet in the nation, along with hydro, wind, and solar energy assets [3] Group 2: Strategic Developments - The acquisition of Calpine will increase Constellation's capacity to nearly 60 GW, positioning the company to better meet the growing power demand driven by factors such as AI data centers and increased electrification [4][5] - Electricity demand is projected to grow by 58% by 2045, significantly outpacing the growth seen in the past two decades, creating a strong market for clean power, including natural gas [5] Group 3: Nuclear Energy Focus - Constellation Energy is capitalizing on the resurgence of nuclear energy by securing new power purchase agreements (PPAs) with technology companies, including a 20-year PPA with Microsoft for the Three Mile Island plant [7][8] - The company plans to restart the dormant Unit 1 reactor at Three Mile Island, which is expected to be operational by 2028, further enhancing its nuclear power capabilities [8]

Core Insights - Sempra Energy (SRE) is focusing on strategic investments to improve operational reliability and customer service while accelerating the growth of its renewable energy portfolio [2][5] Group 1: Strategic Initiatives - Sempra Energy is well-positioned in North America to benefit from the increasing global LNG demand, with significant progress on ECA LNG Phase 1 and Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 projects as of September 2025 [3][9] - The company is increasing infrastructure investments to meet rising electricity demand, particularly due to the expansion of AI data centers in the U.S., with capital spending expected to grow approximately 30% from 2026 to 2029 [4] - Sempra Energy aims to enhance its renewable energy portfolio to leverage economic benefits and ESG incentives in the utility-scale renewable market [5] Group 2: Challenges and Risks - California's severe wildfires pose risks to Sempra Energy, potentially causing power outages and damaging infrastructure, leading to significant losses [6] - Sempra Infrastructure faces risks associated with partnerships with PEMEX and CFE, including financial stability concerns and regulatory issues that could impact operations and financial performance [7] Group 3: Stock Performance - Over the past six months, Sempra Energy shares have increased by 17.8%, outperforming the industry growth of 12.4% [8]

Core Viewpoint - The company is anticipating an increase in power demand driven by the growth of electric vehicles and the expansion of AI data centers [1] Group 1 - The company is focusing on the rising demand for electricity as a key growth driver [1]

Core Insights - AXT emphasizes the growing demand for indium phosphide wafers, driven by the increasing optical connectivity needs in AI data centers, with expectations for significant order growth in the coming years [5][7][10] Company Overview - AXT, founded in 1986 and publicly listed since 1998, specializes in producing compound semiconductor wafers, particularly for applications where silicon wafers are inadequate, with manufacturing based in China and headquarters in Fremont, California [4][21] - The company manufactures three core semiconductor substrate materials: germanium, gallium arsenide, and indium phosphide, with indium phosphide being highlighted as a key growth driver [3][21] Market Demand - Indium phosphide is identified as a critical substrate material for optical transceivers, with demand expected to double in 2026 and again in 2027, particularly as data center connectivity shifts from copper to optical links [7][10] - Current revenue from AI data center connectivity is estimated to be in the single digits, approaching 10%, but is anticipated to grow rapidly, with data center-related demand representing approximately 30%-35% of the total addressable market for indium phosphide substrates [8] Capacity Expansion - AXT plans to double its indium phosphide capacity by 2026 through repurposing existing facilities, which allows for a cost-effective and timely expansion compared to competitors [6][17] - Competitors like Sumitomo are also expanding capacity but may take longer, positioning AXT favorably to gain market share [18] Supply Chain and Vertical Integration - AXT's vertically integrated supply chain in China includes multiple raw material-related companies, which helps mitigate supply chain risks and control costs [11][12] - The company focuses on supplying bare substrates rather than epitaxial wafers, serving various epi vendors and laser manufacturers [13] Export Controls and Geographic Exposure - Export controls pose a significant risk, as indium phosphide was added to China's export control list, requiring AXT to secure permits for overseas shipments, which can lead to unpredictable delays [14][15] - Historically, AXT's revenue has been approximately 40%-50% from China, with a growing share of indium phosphide revenue coming from outside China, currently estimated at over 70%-75% [16] Pricing Strategy - AXT expects pricing to remain stable across most applications, although it is reassessing pricing strategies to establish a standardized baseline, avoiding broad price increases while competitors have pursued significant hikes [19]

Summary of NANO Nuclear Energy FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: NANO Nuclear Energy (NasdaqCM:NNE) - **Focus**: Development of next-generation micro-reactors, nuclear fuel fabrication, and transportation technology aimed at providing smaller, simpler, and safer clean energy solutions [1] Key Areas of Focus - **Micro-Reactors**: The company is concentrating on micro-reactors, particularly the Kronos MMR, which has a capacity of approximately 15 megawatts electric [2] - **Market Applications**: Potential applications include data centers, industrial power needs, military bases, remote communities, and various process heat applications like desalination [2] Industry Dynamics - **Nuclear Renaissance**: The company is benefiting from a global nuclear renaissance driven by strong demand for clean, reliable base load energy, climate mandates, and bipartisan government support [3][4] - **Corporate Interest**: Major tech companies (Microsoft, Amazon, Google, etc.) are expanding their nuclear capabilities, indicating a growing reliance on nuclear energy for data centers [4] Value Proposition of Nuclear Energy - **Base Load Power**: Nuclear energy is recognized as the ideal source for base load power due to its reliability, zero emissions, and high capacity factor [5] - **Growth Commitment**: Countries and major companies are committing to significantly increase nuclear capacity by 2050, with the U.S. aiming to quadruple its capacity [5] Micro-Reactor Advantages - **Cost and Safety**: Micro-reactors are designed to address challenges faced by traditional reactors, such as long approval times and high construction costs, while enhancing safety through factory fabrication and modular assembly [8][9] - **Economies of Scale**: The design allows for cost-effective scaling and reduced initial capital expenditures, which is attractive to potential customers [9] Kronos MMR Specifics - **Design and Technology**: The Kronos MMR utilizes TRISO fuel and is nearing the formal licensing process in the U.S. and Canada, with significant prior investment and historical deployment data supporting its design [12][11] - **Licensing Timeline**: The company plans to submit a construction permit application in early 2026, aiming for operational status by 2029 or 2030 [21][36] Strategic Partnerships and Projects - **University of Illinois**: A prototype project is planned at the University of Illinois, with strong support from the university and state incentives [22][21] - **Chalk River Project**: A potential second prototype in Ontario, Canada, is being explored, which could benefit from the licensing progress made in the U.S. [23] Fuel Supply Chain and Vertical Integration - **Self-Sufficient Supply Chain**: The company is focused on vertical integration to ensure a self-sufficient nuclear fuel supply chain, including partnerships for enrichment and fuel transportation [25][26] - **LIS Technologies**: Collaboration with LIS Technologies aims to address enrichment bottlenecks, leveraging advanced laser-based enrichment technology [27][29] Financial Outlook and Valuation - **Market Valuation**: NANO Nuclear Energy's current valuation is approximately $1.7 billion, significantly lower than peers valued at $6 billion to $16 billion, indicating a potential valuation disconnect [32] Conclusion - **Growth Potential**: The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory, with a strong pipeline of commercial opportunities and plans for significant progress in licensing and project development in 2026 [32][19]